NEWS Student athletes met with minority groups last night for the annual Evening of Diversity. PAGE 3A SPORTS Kansas soccer kicks off its Big 12 Conference season against Nebraska and Colorado. PAGE 10A KANSAN VOL. 115 ISSUE 27 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2004 Enrollment Enrollees hit all-time high Retention rate resident students have increased BY Ross Fitch rfitch@kansan.com kANSAN STAFF WRITER www.kansan.com The one-year retention rate for returning students and overall enrollment at the University of Kansas are at an all time high. According to the 20th-day figures released by the Board of Regents, overall University enrollment for all campuses increased 318 students, or 1.1 percent, from Fall 2003 with a total of 29,590 students. The Lawrence campus itself totaled 26,980 students, which was a 166 student increase, or 0.6 percent, from Fall 2003. This fall saw a record high of 20,379 Kansas resident student enrollees, which was 68.9 percent of the student population. This was a 386 student increase from Fall 2003. The number of non-resident students actually dropped by 158 students from Fall 2003. Shulenburger credited the drop largely to the impact of the new tuition structure at the KU Edwards Campus, because it is no longer a flatrate campus. FALL ENROLLMENT STATISTICS Overall KU Enrollment Overall KU Enrollment ■ Fall 2004: 29,590 students ■ Fall 2003: 29,272 students ■ Percentage change: 1.1% increase Lawrence Campus Enrollment Resident Enrollment (Lawrence Campus) Pall 2003.27 Percentage change: 0.6% increase Fall 2004: 18,622 students Fall 2003: 18,298 students Percentage change: 1.7% increase Non-resident Enrollment (Lawrence campus) The one-year retention rate for - Fall 2004: 8,358 students - Fall 2003: 8,516 students - Percentage change: 1.9% - decrease Source: Kansas Board of Regents 2004 Fall Enrollment Figures returning members of the University's 2003 freshman class 83 percent, the highest ever. SEE ENROLLEES ON PAGE 5A Numbers show diverse campus Minority enrollment increased this year hope to recruit more Minority enrollment set a record high for the second year in a row, according to Fall 2004 enrollment numbers released yesterday. By Ross Fitch fritch@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER The total number of minority students enrolled at the University of Kansas this fall, 3,420, increased 139 students, or 4.2 percent, from Fall 2003's number of 3,281. The number of first-time freshmen minority students enrolled also increased from 512 students in Fall 2003 to 561 students this year, a 9.6 percent increase. Robert Page, director of multicultural affairs, said the new numbers recognized the University's ability to project a welcoming environment for minority students, and one in which they can succeed. "A student of color will succeed here academically, while having a safe and comfortable place," he said. Page credited the continuing record highs to a high retention rate and an increase in incoming freshmen. He said the University, and particularly the Office of Multicultural Affairs, was doing everything it could market the MINORITY ENROLLMENT STATISTICS Total Minority Enrollment ■ Fall 2004: 3,420 students ■ Fall 2003: 3,281 students ■ Percentage change: 4.2% increase Incoming Minority Freshmen ■ Fall 2004: 561 students ■ Fall 2003: 512 students ■ Percentage change: 9.6% increase Segway scootin' "Increase in minority enrollment is "We're no longer a revolving door." Paide said. "Students are staying now." David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, said University officials were delighted with the minority enrollment increase. He said minority enrollment would continue to be a focus for officials. University, and it showed as students were staving. Source: University Relations Overall Incoming Freshmen ■ Fall 2004: 4,269 students — minority percent: 13.1% ■ Fall 2003: 4,066 students — minority percent: 12.6% ■ Percentage change: 0.5% SEE DIVERSE ON PAGE 5A Josh Caldwell, from America at 10 mph, rolls along Sixth Street on a sewag yesterday afternoon. America at 10 mph is a group that has been using a sewegway to travel from Seattle to Boston since Aug. 9. A sewegway will go for about an hour at 12 mph before the battery needs to be recharged. While in Lawrence the group stopped at Henry's, 11 E. Eighth St., to update its Web site, www.10mph.com, which documents its trip across the country. Steven Bartkoski/KANSAN Cell phones not coming to campus housing BY STEPHANIE FARLEY sfarley@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER But Ken Stoner, director of Student Housing, said the department was not seriously considering the issue of cell phones at this point. The University of Kansas is considering cell phones for all residence hall residents, according to a recent USA Today article. Allison Lopez, public relations and marketing manager for information services, said cell phones were only one of the projects that Information Services was considering to improve technology and life in the halls. The University appeared in a USA Today article on Wednesday titled University housing going new school.' It was about upgrades schools are implementing to attract students. Haya El Nasser, USA Today reporter, wrote the article, and said the point was that the University was only looking at the option. Vince Avila, associate director of student housing, said almost everyone in the residence halls had a cell phone. He said there was a small percentage of people who did not have cell phones. If a person did not have a cell phone, the rooms still had a voice or land line connection. Avila said. Avila said hall renovations were the main focus. Stoner said all residence halls were full for this year. Stoner said the department of student housing was having no problems attracting students to live in the halls. Stoner said the renovations were being done to meet students' needs. He said students today were not used to sharing their bedrooms, bathrooms or televisions. Stoner said the residence halls had originally been designed for people his age who had come from homes where everything was shared. Avilla said rooms started having more amenities such as kitchen sinks and private bathrooms. Renovations on Ellsworth Hall were completed last year. Hashinger Hall will close in May for renovations that are scheduled to be completed by Fall 2006. Avila said Stouffer Place apartments were being renovated one building at a time. Avila said about five apartments had been renovated out of 25 apartments. The apartments are being enlarged.4. - Edited by Neil Mulka Gay unions incite debate BY ANDY HYLAND shyland@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Genevieve Wood faced a tough crowd last night. Her task was to take the side against the question "Should the government support same sex marriage?" at a Student Union Activities sponsored debate at the Lied Center. But Wood, vice president for communications at Family Research Council and an occasional television pundit, didn't back down. In liberal Lawrence, such a position won't win you many supporters. After she and her opponent for the night, Jonathan Rauch, Atlantic Monthly correspondent, presented their arguments, Wood faced questions attacking her position from the 175 people who attended the event. Emily McCave, a children's therapist from Topeka, asked Wood if a gay woman and her lover's children would be better off than unplanned pregnancies in heterosexual marriages, and the audience applauded. Wood maintained her cool. "This happens a lot on college campuses," she said. Wood said it was important to keep children in mind when talking about gay marriage and that children were better off with a parent from both sexes. John Tran/KANSAN Emily McCave, Lawrence resident, poses a question at a same-sex marriage debate presented by Student Union Activities. The debate was held last night at the Lied Center. SEE DEBATE ON PAGE 5A The University Daily Kansan 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall 1435 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045 (785) 864-4810 © 2004 The University Daily Kansan Legal Downloads Student Senate creates a task force to analyze download program options for University students similar to other colleges. PAGE 3A Football preview Kansas will try to go 3-1 when it takes on Texas Tech tomorrow at Memorial Stadium. The Red Raiders bring their noted offense to meet the Jayhawks' defense.PAGE 7A Index 鱼 News Briefs 2A Weather 2A Opinion 8A Sports 10A Comics 8A Crossword 8A Classifieds 9A 4 . 5 1